2019/2020 - Islands of Cape Verde archipelago

Explore the archipelago of Cape Verde with its intoxicating mixture of African and Portuguese heritage and its welcoming locals. Once a former colony and slave trade outpost, the Cape Verde Islands of today offer a spellbinding blend of African and Portuguese influences in their architecture, food, customs and traditions. Being blessed with a pleasant year-round climate, the archipelago offers a diverse range of landscapes from verdant mountain ranges, lush hills and jungles to explore, to volcanic landscapes or wide deserted beaches. This cruise holiday will open up for you a vibrant and colorful world, all set to the gentle rhythms of West African music.

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 - Saturday : Palmeira (Sal Island) Embarkation at 4 pm at the port of Palmeira, Sal. Dinner on board and departure at midnight towards Boavista. Overnight at sea.

Day 2 - Sunday : Sal Rei (Boa Vista island) Early morning arrival at Sal Rei, Boa Vista. Boavista offers the most beautiful beaches of the archipelago, and amazing landscapes, both on its coasts and in the heart of the island. Relax on the beach or enjoy an all-day optional excursion to discover the most authentic aspects of the island: its villages with colorful facades, its artisans of ceramics, and its agriculture. Lunch at a local restaurant, before we return on board to sail towards Santiago island. Overnight at sea.

Day 3 - Monday : Praia (Santiago island) Early morning arrival at Praia, Santiago, the largest of the islands of the archipelago. After a morning at leisure and lunch on board, the optional afternoon excursion will bring us to Cidade Velha, the first colonial city built in the tropics and classified by Unesco. The fort and the nearby settlements were once a thriving slave trade center. Late in the evening we will sail north towards Fogo, the island of fire. Overnight at sea.

Day 4 - Tuesday : Sao Felipe (Fogo island) Early morning arrival Fogo, with its dominating sight of the Fogo Volcano which rises 3,000 meters over the sea level. Our optional full day excursion will bring us at the top of the volcano, right at the crater edge. You will walk through a landscape of lava. Lunch will be at the crater's village. We will also visit the city San Felipe with a characteristic colonial charm. Late in the evening we will sail to Sao Vicente. Overnight at sea.

Day 5 - Wednesday : Mindelo (Sao Vincente island) Once a vibrant commercial island, it has evolved into a cultural center and Mindelo is one of the most well preserved colonial cities in Cape Verde. Our optional walking excursion will allow you to visit galleries and discover busy restaurants, musical events that give Mindelo its label of the Cultural Center of the Cape Verde. It is no surprise that the National Museum of Handicrafts is located in Mindelo. Overnight in port.

Day 6 - Thursday : Mindelo (Sao Vincente Island) - Porto Novo (Santo Antao) Early in the morning depart for a short sail towards the island of Santo Antao, the greenest of all Cape Verde Islands with landscapes of verdant plantations of sugarcane alternate old craters. Our optional full day excursion will include the luxuriant Valley Paul where sugarcane is still exploited and where you will taste the "grogue" the national drink of the Archipelago. You will also reach the Valley of Ribeira das Patas and discover rock formations coming from lava formations. Dinner on board and overnight in port.

Day 7 - Friday : Porto Novo (Santo Antao) This morning, enjoy an excursion on the western side of the island where landscapes are arid and mountainous (up to 1100 m altitude). Discover the south-western part of the island a safari through volcanic landscapes, pozzolans fields and isolated villages with drop-wise agriculture and different kind of plantations. This is a beautiful experience through villages like Lagedos with an ecological tourism. Return on board to depart towards Sal. Overnight at sea.

* Cruise Fares
All fares are quoted in US Dollars or Euro and are per person based on double occupancy. US $ cruise fares apply for US and Canadian passport holders and Euro rates apply for all other nationalities.

Fares Include:
Shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation all meals and on board entertainment as specified in the cruise program selected.